7 Leadership lessons to be learned from M.S.Dhoni’s captaincy

7 Leadership lessons to be learned from M.S.Dhoni’s captaincy

Magnetic Personality binds the team

Acceptance as a natural leader is perhaps the biggest strength that any leader can posses. With his down to earth approach, complete trust in his team members, personal standards of excellence and natural motivational ability MSD has enabled his personality to gain acceptance, get exceptional performance and reinforced self belief in the team.

Strategizes intelligently to gain the edge

Choosing the team is always a challenge for there are many if’s and but’s that constantly keep lurking till the last moment. Yet, MSD with his astute thinking strategises the team composition as well as game plan in consultation with the coach and senior team members. It is also evident that at times he has gone by his gut instinct to vividly visualise the end result and achieve it even if it meant taking some chances.

Dares to take risks that make the difference

Since strategies cannot be fool proof and a true leader has to be willing to take calculated risks. MSD has shown ample evidence of it when he has dared to play Nehra in the semi-finals ( much against popular sentiments and naïve logic) and took a chance with the temperamental Sreeshanth in the finals. In fact he was candid enough to admit that in the semi-finals he read the wicket wrong hinting that he did gamble in the team selection.

Humility is at the heart of his leadership style

You will rarely find MSD hogging centre stage; in fact like the perfect leader he lets his team members believe that they achieved it themselves. He has grounded him self with humility knowing very well that when the going is good he will get credit but when the tables are turned he would have to put up with the brickbats that often accompany the leaders job. In most pictures that the press published, of the winning team taken which was taken soon after the match ended, MSD is conspicuously missing or relegated to the background just reinforcing his humility in acknowledging collective team effort.

Operates unflappably to ensure that all are grounded

MSD is never animated nor excited no matter what the situation. This makes him an exceptional leader, for controlling ones emotion under stress is perhaps a rare blessing in many leaders. The calm manner in which he readily agreed to taking the toss a second time when there was a mix up in the toss, giving Sreeshanth 8 overs despite having alternatives, promoting himself in the batting order despite having a poor run with the bat are testimony to his maturity and temperament.

Never shirks from taking responsibility and giving credit

By promoting himself in the batting order he was taking a risk since he had a poor run of form but it was his belief that he had to take charge out there in the centre and lead by example. In saying that the coach endorsed his decision to bat higher up in the order, he was merely stating a fact that he respected the contribution of the coach Gary Kirsten and valued his sage counsel. Soon after winning one of his earliest statements about the victory pertained him being relieved from having to answer questions about team selection in case the team had lost thereby implying that he had a major role to play in the team selection for which he took responsibility.

Inspirational, instinctive, impulsive, intriguing style gives the winning edge.

In acknowledging Gambirs crucial innings in the finals, he was candid enough to articulate that he would have loved Gambhir to have got a century but that Gambhir had only himself to blame for getting out. Giving Sachin Tendulkar 2 overs to bowl in the finals in front of his home crowd was both a tactical move ( Tendulkar has often broken partnerships) and an impulsive move ( to let Tendulkar hold centre stage).In choosing to promote himself in the batting order was both an inspirational and intriguing move for it could have a backfired badly if he had got out cheaply.

Perhaps these traits when appreciated in the context of the competitive spirit of the game and the complexities of the evolving nature of the game would perhaps explain why M.S.Dhoni holds an iconic status as leader and perhaps one of the greatest Indian cricket captains who has put Indian cricket to a new pedestal to rank at the number one spot in all forms of cricket. Is there any more proof needed to acknowledge his contribution as a role model and leader?

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